A navigation method and system allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions while a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles or obstacles as detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. The navigation method includes the steps of detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary, detecting other vehicles or obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor and measuring distances therefrom when the vehicle is in motion, evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions, and changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where the maximum number of the entries that can be selected by a user is limited by the degree of accessibility.
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12. A navigation system installed in a user vehicle, comprising:
means for detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary;
means for detecting other vehicles or obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor provided on the user vehicle and measuring distances from the other vehicles or obstacles when the vehicle is in motion;
means for evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions surrounding the user vehicle; and
means for changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where a number of the entries that can be selected by a user is limited by the degree of accessibility;
wherein the number of said entries that can be displayed on the monitor of the navigation system when the vehicle is in motion is smaller than that can be displayed on the monitor when the vehicle is stationary.
1. A navigation method of changing accessibility to functions of navigation system installed in a user vehicle, comprising the following steps of:
detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary;
detecting other vehicles or obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor provided on the user vehicle and measuring distances from the other vehicles or obstacles when the vehicle is in motion;
evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions surrounding the user vehicle; and
changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor where a number of the entries that can be selected by a user is limited by the degree of accessibility;
wherein the number of said entries that can be displayed on the monitor of the navigation system when the vehicle is in motion is smaller than that can be displayed on the monitor when the vehicle is stationary.
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This invention relates to a navigation method and system for dynamic access to navigation functions, and more particularly, to a navigation method and system for allowing dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions when a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding circumstances such as vehicles and obstacles detected by sensors provided on the vehicle.
A vehicle navigation system performs vehicle travel guidance for enabling a driver to easily drive the vehicle to a selected destination. Such a navigation system detects the position of the vehicle, reads out map data pertaining to an area at the vehicle current position from a data storage medium, for example, a CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory), a DVD (digital versatile disc) or from a remote navigation server, and displays a map image on a monitor (display) screen while superimposing a mark representing the current location of the vehicle on a predetermined portion of the map image.
As the present position of the vehicle changes with the travel of the vehicle, the vehicle current position mark on the map image changes accordingly. Thus, navigation system enables the user to recognize the area at the vehicle position at a glance. When a destination is not set, such a navigation system functions as a locator map which indicates the current location of the vehicle on the map image. When the destination is set, the navigation system starts a route guidance function through a guided route from the starting point to the destination.
Typically, the route guidance function performs an intersection guidance process in which a monitor screen displays an enlarged intersection diagram and the direction in which the vehicle is to travel while displaying the guide route on a map. When a destination is input, a CPU in the navigation system automatically determines a most suitable guided route (calculated route) and successively stores nodes data (expressed in longitude and latitude) of the calculated route in a memory.
During actual traveling, the node data series stored in the memory is searched for a portion of the guided route to be displayed in a map display area of the monitor screen, and the portion of the guided route is highlighted so as to be discriminable from other routes. When the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from an intersection it is approaching, an enlarged or highlighted intersection diagram with an arrow indicating the direction in which the vehicle is to turn at the intersection is displayed to inform the user the direction of turn at the intersection.
When a vehicle is in motion, setting the navigation functions poses a problem to a user. Actions for setting the navigation functions, such as finding points of interest (POI) or recently-used addresses, can be dangerous because such operation distracts the user's attention to driving. To operate the navigation system, the user must choose a desired entry from various categories or entries. This step requires the user to look at the monitor screen and find a desired entry from a plurality of categories or entries. Then, the user selects the entry on the monitor screen through input means such as a touch screen, a hardswitch on the panel, or a remote controller. Thus, for safe driving, a driver should be prohibited to operate the navigation system to a certain degree.
On the other hand, if the vehicle navigation system prohibits all the access to the navigation functions when the vehicle is in motion, the utility of the navigation system is diminished significantly. Such prohibition also frustrates the user since the user cannot use the navigation system unless the user stops the vehicle. Thus, overly limiting the access to the navigation functions can reduce the usefulness of the navigation system while allowing access to all functions will excessively distract the driver. Accordingly, the scope of access to the navigation functions must be balanced between the safety of driving and the usefulness of the vehicle navigation system.
In the conventional vehicle navigation system, access to the navigation system is mostly limited while the vehicle is in motion. In most cases, access to many functions of the navigation systems are simply locked out when the vehicle is in motion while allowing access to all of the functions when the vehicle is stationary. Thus, the user is unable to input new entries or change the entries in the navigation system at all when the vehicle is moving.
Even when the navigation system allows some access to the navigation functions, the scope of access is often arbitrary. For example, while the vehicle is in motion, a vehicle navigation system may allow the driver to select recently used addresses listed on the monitor while other functions are restricted. However, it is questionable whether this conventional approach achieves a balance between safety and usefulness.
For example, the conventional method does not take the surrounding driving conditions into account. When the vehicle is in motion, the surrounding circumstance and conditions change continuously. Speed, road conditions, and surrounding vehicles are examples that would affect the safety of driving and, thus, a scope of access to the navigation functions. There are other parameters, such as experience, age, physical conditions of the driver that affect the driving.
Accordingly, merely classifying whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary fails to provide adequate guideline for setting the scope of the access. Therefore, it is desirable to assign different degrees of access to the navigation functions based on the driving environment and conditions. For instance, when other vehicles are far away from the user's vehicle, the risk of traffic accident is relatively low and some vehicle navigation functions should be made available to the user.
Moreover, as described above, finding a desired entry out of a plurality of categories or entries, and selecting the entry through a touch-screen or other input means poses hardship to the user when the number of entries is large. The more the entries are available, the harder it becomes for the user to find a desired entry and to select it. Such distraction amounting to a relatively long time is undesirable while the vehicle is in motion. Thus, it is desirable to facilitate easy selection by reducing the number of allowable entries, thereby avoiding the distraction from the safe driving.
The present invention aims to provide a vehicle navigation method and system that resolves the above described drawbacks of the conventional vehicle navigation system in terms of the scope of access to the navigation functions while the vehicle is in motion.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation method and system which is capable of dynamically changing the scope of access to the navigation functions based on driving environment and conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a navigation method and system which is capable of displaying the scope of access based on driving environment and conditions to allow operations with minimum number of key operations.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a navigation method and system which is capable of displaying the scope of access based on driving environment and conditions to induce the user not to operate the navigation system continuously while the vehicle is in motion.
One aspect of the present invention is a navigation method which allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions while a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles and obstacles as detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. The navigation method includes the steps of detecting whether the user vehicle is in motion or stationary, detecting other vehicles and obstacles surrounding the user vehicle by a sensor and measuring distances therefrom when the vehicle is in motion, evaluating resultant data from the sensor and determining a range of driving conditions, and changing a degree of accessibility to navigation functions based on the range of the driving conditions and displaying entries on a monitor of the navigation system where the entries that can be selected are limited by the degree of accessibility.
In the navigation method of the present invention, a number of the entries that can be displayed on the monitor of the navigation system when the vehicle is in motion is smaller than that can be displayed on the monitor when the vehicle is stationary. In the process of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions, the navigation method displays accessible entries on the monitor while disabling accessibility to other entries in response to the range of driving conditions.
In the process of determining the range of driving conditions, the navigation method produces two or more different ranges of driving conditions in response to results of evaluating the data from the sensor. The navigation methods prohibits any access to the navigation functions when the range of driving conditions indicates that a risk involved is highest.
In the process of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions, the navigation method assigns an initial highlight position to an entry at a center of accessible entries on the monitor. Further, the navigation method changes the highlight position on the accessible entries in a closed loop manner so that the highlight position continuously moves in an upward or downward direction in response to user's key operations.
Preferably, the navigation method assigns a most frequently used entry to a center of the monitor and entries next frequently used to near the center of the monitor and assigning an initial highlight position on the entry at the center of the monitor, thereby minimizing a number of key operations for selecting an entry.
In the process of changing the degree of accessibility to the navigation functions, the navigation method displays an enabled area consisting of accessible entries and a disabled area consisting of non-accessible entries and shifting the enabled area at a predetermined delay time after positioning a highlight on an end of the enabled area, thereby directing the user to concentrate on the driving.
Another aspect of the present invention is a navigation system which allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions while a vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles and obstacles as detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. The navigation system is comprised of various means for implementing the navigation method described above, thereby achieving an excellent balance between the safety of driving and the utility of the vehicle navigation system.
According to the present invention, the navigation method and system allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions when the vehicle is in motion based on the conditions surrounding the vehicle such as distances from other vehicles and obstacles detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. When the degree of risk involved is high, the access to the navigation functions is further limited, and when the degree of risk is low, a scope of the access to the navigation functions is increased. Thus, the user is able to select and set an entry quickly without being distracted from driving. Further, the navigation method and system of the present invention is designed to minimize the number of key operations which also reduces the time for selecting and setting the entry. Furthermore, the navigation method and system of the present invention is designed to discourage the user from continuously looking at the display screen by delaying the screen update, thereby avoiding distraction from the driving.
The navigation method and system of the present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The navigation method and system of the present invention is designed to allow settings of all of the navigation functions when the vehicle is stationary whereas to allow dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions when the vehicle is in motion based on the surrounding vehicles and obstacles detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. A plurality of sensors are provided around the vehicle to detect the conditions surrounding the vehicle.
It should be noted that such restriction against the navigation functions is done when a user wants to input a destination in a navigation system, select menus, or change settings of the navigation system, and the like. Thus, if the navigation system is already in the route guidance mode, because the destination is already set, the route guidance function is unaffected by the surrounding conditions.
First, the basic flow of the vehicle navigation system of the preset invention is explained with reference to FIG. 8. The sensors provided around the vehicle detects the presence and distances of other vehicles or obstacles (step 60). The data detected by the sensors is evaluated and compared with predetermined reference data to determine the degree of risk posed by the surrounding conditions of the vehicle (step 61).
In the case where other vehicles or obstacles are far away from the vehicle, the degree of risk posed by the surrounding conditions is deemed low. In contrast, if other vehicles or obstacles are close to the vehicle, the degree of risk posed by the surrounding conditions is deemed high. In the preferred embodiment, the level of driving conditions is numbered from range 0 to range 3 to express the different degrees of risk posed by the surrounding conditions (steps 62-65). Hereafter, this range may also be referred to as “driving condition range”.
The driving condition range 3 indicates that the obstacles or other vehicles are most sparse and the degree of risk posed by the surroundings is minimum (lowest). The driving condition range 0 indicates that the obstacles or other vehicles are least sparse and the degree of risk posed by the surroundings is maximum (highest). The driving condition ranges 2 and 1 are in-between the driving condition ranges 0 and 3. Thus, the driving condition range 2 indicates the risk higher than the range 3 but not as high as the range 1 (second lowest). The driving condition range 1 indicates the risk higher than the range 2, but not as high as the range 0 (second highest). When the driving condition range noted above is determined, the result is reflected on the display (steps 66-69) of the vehicle navigation system, i.e., available functions, as will be described in detail below.
The classification of the driving condition range noted above may be affected by other factors such as driver characteristics and vehicle performance. As examples of driver characteristics, the following factors may affect the driving performance and thus affect the range setting: age, gender, height, chronic health conditions such as vision, hearing, stress and arthritis, personality, driving experience level, preferences such as speed, lane and headlight use, mood, emotion, health conditions, alcohol and drug use. Such factors may be input in the navigation system by the user which will be incorporated in determined the reference data noted above.
Moreover, a device to measure such factors affecting the driving performance may be provided to the navigation system. Such measurements include: a reaction time determined by a time lag from the moment the sensor detects the change in the relative speed of the surrounding traffic to the moment the driver adjusts the speed; operations of gas pedal and brake pedal determined by high acceleration, sudden brakes, frequent speed changes, constancy of speed; operations of clutch and shift lever; use of cruise control as it can indicate driver's attention and alertness; use of turn signals; and use of navigation system, audio device, A/C, and other controls as these actions indicate driver's attention and distraction. Any deviation from the normal range in the above measurements might suggest temporary reduction of the driver's ability.
The factors concerning the vehicle performance that can influence the classification of the driving condition range include: vehicle model, safety features, vehicle weight, load balance, street conditions, weather, acceleration deceleration performance, engine transmission condition, vehicle control systems, vehicle vibration and driving noise to evaluate street surface, tire conditions, and wind. It is preferable to take into account all those variables to determine the driving conditions in order to give an accurate scope of access to the user while the vehicle is in motion. However, providing all equipment necessary to measure and evaluate such parameters in the navigation system is costly and impractical.
In the preferred embodiment, sensor units used in an adaptive cruise control apparatus is incorporated in the navigation system to determine the surrounding driving conditions. The adaptive cruise control is a technology that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a driver-selected distance from the vehicle ahead. In the conventional adaptive cruise control, sensors using radar beams are provided to assist in locating the closest vehicle or other obstacles. In the present invention, one or more radar sensors are arranged around the vehicle to locate obstacles around the vehicle and measure the distances from the obstacles.
In this manner, the present invention can be implemented by the sensor arrangements described above with reference to
The driving condition range 0 indicates that another vehicle is close to the vehicle, thus, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the highest. The driving condition range 0 indicates that the driver should concentrate on driving rather than operating the navigation functions. Thus, the scope of access to the navigation functions is zero. In the driving condition range 1, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the second highest. Access to the navigation functions is possible but its scope is accordingly very limited, as will be described in detail later.
In the driving condition range 2, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the second lowest. The scope of access to the navigation functions is set accordingly, as will be described in detail later. In the driving condition range 3, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the lowest. The scope of access to the navigation functions is set accordingly, which is least limited as will be described in detail later. In the example of
Similar to the example of
The block diagram of
The navigation system further includes a processor (CPU) 49 for controlling an overall operation of the navigation system, a ROM 50 for storing various control programs such as a route search program and a map matching program necessary for navigation control and the program for dynamic access to the navigation function to implement the present invention, a RAM 51 for storing a processing result such as a calculated route to the destination, a voice guiding unit 52 for guiding a traveling direction at an intersection with spoken instructions, a display controller 53 for generating map images (such as a map guide image and an arrow guide image) on the basis of the map information, a VRAM 54 for storing the images generated by the display controller 53, a menu/list generating unit 55 for generating menu image/various list images, a synthesizing unit 56 for synthesizing images from the VRAM 54 and the menu/list generating unit 55, a monitor (display) 57, and a bus 58 for interfacing the above listed units in the navigation system.
A sensor unit 72 preferably includes six or eight sensors as shown in
The joystick/enter key 47a selects highlighted items within the menu and moves map displays and a vehicle position icon. The rotary encoder 47b changes zoom scale, scrolls list pages, moves the cursor, and etc. The cancel key 47c cancels the present displayed screen or is operated when returning the screen to the previous menu screen. The MP/RG key 47d toggles between detailed map display and basic guide display during guidance. The menu key 47e displays the main menu. The plan key 47h starts the guidance to the route set by Today's Plan function, the N/H key 47i changes between North-up and Heading-up orientation, and the voice key 47j initiates voice instruction.
Although a remote controller such as described above is a typical example for selecting menus, executing selected functions and etc., the navigation system includes various other input methods to achieve the same or similar operations done through the remote controller 47. For example, the navigation system includes hard keys and a joystick on a head unit of the navigation system mounted on a dashboard, a touch screen of the display panel, and voice communication means having a voice recognition device.
Based on the structure of the navigation system described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7A-7B, the navigation method and system of the present invention is explained with reference to
In the menu screen, the user can select one of the entries by operating, for example, the scroll key 47q and pressing the enter key 47 of the remote controller 47. When the user moves the highlight to the top and presses the scroll key upward again, the highlight moves to the bottom. Likewise, when the user moves the highlight to the bottom and further presses the scroll key downward again, the highlight moves to the top. Thus, continuous up or down movement produces a closed loop like movement of the highlighted position in the upward direction or downward direction. This situation is expressed by the circular arrows at the right side of the screen.
Thus, in the example of
In those and following displays, an entry shaded by diagonal line hatching indicates that such an entry is disabled. Thus, a user cannot select disabled entries.
Thus, in
The displays in
The surrounding condition and environment is constantly monitored in real time to provide most accurate degrees of access to the navigation functions. When the vehicle is in the driving condition range 3 with less obstacles around the vehicle, the screen in
Likewise, based on the signals from the sensors, the navigation system may determine that driving condition now becomes the range 1 rather the range 2. In this case, some more functions must be restricted to avoid the distraction from the driving. Thus, the display will change from the one in
The surrounding driving condition may improve such as from the range 0 to the range 1, thereby allowing more navigation functions be accessed. In that case, the display in
In the foregoing,
The circle of arrows at the right side of the screen of
In
In
When the driving condition surrounding the vehicle is in the range 0, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the highest. In this condition, “Collision hazard” warning is displayed and all of the access to the navigation functions are prohibited. Although not shown here, display example of such a “Collision hazard” warning similar to those shown in
The surrounding condition and environment is constantly monitored in real time to provide most accurate degrees of access to the navigation functions. For example, when the vehicle was previously in the driving condition range 3, as in
Likewise, based on the signals from the sensors, the navigation system may determine that driving condition now becomes the range 1 rather the range 2. In this case, some more functions must be restricted to avoid distraction on the user. The display will change from
The surrounding driving condition may improve such as from the range 0 to the range 1, thereby allowing more navigation functions be accessed. In that case, the display in
In the foregoing,
The loop like arrows at the right side of the screen indicate that the highlighted position circulates either upwardly or downwardly when the user continuously uses the scroll key or up/down keys in one of the directions. Thus, in the example of
As shown in
Preferably, an initial highlighted position is on entry C1 because the possibility of selecting this entry is the highest. Entry C2 and entry C3 can be highlighted simply by moving the highlight once by pressing a key. Thus, entry C2 can be highlighted by one key operation and entry C3 can be highlighted by one key operation from the center. Likewise, entry 4 and entry 5 can be highlighted by two key operations from the center. This arrangement allows efficient operation by minimizing the number of key operations to select a desired entry. Since the most frequently used entries are placed in the center, this arrangement achieves a high probability of reaching the desired entry by a minimum number of key strokes.
As shown in
In
In this preferred embodiment, the most frequently used address (entry C1) is placed at the center, and the second and third frequently used addresses (entry C2, entry C3) are placed adjacent to the most frequently used address (entry C1). Likewise, fourth and fifth most frequently used addresses (entry C4, entry C5) are placed adjacent to second and third most frequently used addresses (entry C2, entry C3). An initial highlighted position is on entry C1 because the possibility of its being selected is the highest. Entry C2 and entry C3 can be selected by moving the highlighted position by one stroke. Likewise, entry 4 and entry 5 can be selected by changing the highlighted position by two strokes. This arrangement allows efficient operation by minimizing the number of key operations to select the desired entry. Since the most frequently used entries are positioned at the center, this arrangement achieves a high probability of reaching the desired entry by the minimum number of key strokes.
In this preferred embodiment, as shown in
When the driving condition is in the range 0, the degree of risk posed by the obstacles around the vehicle is the highest. In this condition, “Collision hazard” warning is displayed and all of the access to the navigation functions are prohibited. Although not shown here, display example of such a “Collision hazard” warning similar to those shown in
As noted above, when the driving condition is changed, the navigation system detects the changes and dynamically controls the accessible range of the navigation functions. Thus, if the navigation screen shows the “In-Motion Top Menu” screen, the screen illustration will change among the ones shown in
The predetermined delay time can be set by the user in a set-up procedure of the navigation system or automatically by the navigation system. An example of the predetermined delay time is five seconds, which means that it takes five second for the screen of
Because of this delay, the user is discouraged from keep looking at the navigation screen, i.e, encouraged to concentrate on driving rather than operating the navigation functions. If the area of selectable entries shifts without delay, the user can continuously use the navigation functions to select a desired entry. Such configurations defeat the purpose of limiting the accessibility of the navigation functions. It is desirable to disrupt the operation of the navigation function so that the user will not continuously operate the navigation functions. Thus, the delayed screen update forces the driver to intermit the operation and to concentrate on the driving.
As has been described above, according to the present invention, the navigation method and system allows dynamic access to different degrees of navigation functions when the vehicle is in motion based on the conditions surrounding the vehicle such as distances from other vehicles and obstacles detected by sensors provided on the vehicle. When the degree of risk involved is high, the access to the navigation functions is further limited, and when the degree of risk is low, the scope of access to the navigation functions is increased. Thus, the user is able to select and set an entry quickly without being distracted from driving. Further, the navigation method and system of the present invention is designed to minimize the number of key operations which also reduces the time for selecting and setting the entry. Furthermore, the navigation method and system of the present invention is designed to discourage the user from continuously looking at the display screen by delaying the screen update, thereby avoiding distraction from the driving.
Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Blumbergs, Eric, Yokota, Tatsuo
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Apr 24 2003 | YOKOTA, TATSUO | Alpine Electronics, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 014328 | /0074 | |
May 08 2003 | BLUMBERGS, ERIC | Alpine Electronics, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 014328 | /0074 |
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